Mr. Warren to Mr. Seward.

No. 32.]

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch of November 29, (No. 17.)

I send you with this a translation of a communication received this morning from the minister of foreign affairs in relation to the published reports of an impending war with Mexico. I am very certain that there is no tangible foundation for the rumor, beyond a desire to embellish the telegraphic column by a sensation paragraph. Beyond this slight ripple of excitement, there is nothing to disturb the tranquillity of the people.

The coffee crop promises a very large increase from the last year’s yield, say, by estimate, one hundred thousand quintals against forty thousand for the previous year. There are now at the roadstead of San José eight vessels, a number never before known, and which indicates a healthy increase of commercial intercourse. With a return to a specie basis of currency, the trade of this country will tend largely to our country, on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Now it is mainly with California, where the currency assimilates to that of this country.

The chamber of deputies is still in session, but with great quietude of debate, and but little progress in absolute business.

I remain, Mr. Secretary, with high respect, your obedient servant,

FITZ HENRY WARREN.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

Señor Aycinena to Mr. Warren.

Sir: Several daily papers of the United States which have been received by the steamer from Panama, give notice that there was to be a war between Mexico and Guatemala, for supposed grievances of this government offered during the revolution which has just ended in that republic, and upon questions of boundaries. The government of Guatemala have been surprised by these statements, as there has transpired nothing which could justify them. Between the authorities of the republic and those of the states of Mexico there are the best relations, and we have received the most explicit declarations of a desire to maintain the harmony and peace so necessary between conterminous peoples.

There has been an armed invasion, which organized in and came from the territory of Chiapas, but of emigrant Guatemalians, which that government had no power to prevent, but for which they issued orders to that intention—an invasion which was promptly suppressed and energetically punished in our own limits.

With regard to the question of boundaries, although we have never had a fixed line, which has given cause from time to time to complaints and disputes between private citizens which could not be avoided, the government of Guatemala has been disposed to have an adjustment with that of Mexico, to the accomplishment of a friendly and cordial [Page 339] solution of the causes of disagreement. These political events which have disturbed frequently the neighboring republic have not permitted the attention which the ques-tian merits. Such is at present the state of affairs between the two republics; therefore there exists no reason which could justify the statements of the dailies to which I have referred. The newspapers of Chiapas have sometimes published articles which have shown a spirit not the most friendly at the time of the close of the late revolution which has agitated Mexico.

When these papers arrived at the capital there were published some articles in some of the papers which intimated a desire to make reclamations and reopen the dispute upon boundaries, and of which they wrote with great inexactitude. These publications were probably contributed by Guatemalian refugees, who would be gratified to see their country involved in an exterior war to subserve their own personal interest. They must most certainly have given origin to the report—in all particulars false— which the dailies of New York have published and circulated. Being sure that the government of your excellency looks with interest upon everything which tends to the preservation of peace between this republic and the neighboring governments, the President has directed me to address your excellency this communication, that you may make known its purport to the government of the United States, so as to dissipate whatever doubt those reports to which I have referred may have given character and currency.

In compliance with the order of the President, I avail myself of this opportunity to repeat to your excellency that I remain,

Your most obedient servant,

PEDRO DE AYCINENA.

Major General Fitz Henry Warren, Minister Resident of the United States.